At least the airplane clapping could be seen as cheering on the pilot for doing a good job. Much worse, imo, is the movie theater clapper. Those actors, directors and crew can’t hear your claps. They mean nothing!
As a teen most of my summer hollidays were spent visting abuela and abuelo in spain. Cinema (double features) were around 100 Pesetas (compared to Euro, w/o inflation 50 Cents(!). As you can imagine I saw every movie (rated or not).
First time was a culture shock (compared to the mostly silent German cinema audience), as they not only clapped, they also cheered or booed at any time the hero or villain did something heroesque/villainous.
But I grew into it and am missing it really. I wish this would be a thing everywhere.
Edit: I want to add that I’m an ancient person and ask any Spaniards: Is this still a thing?
I mean, it’s just a logic thing to do. At least we all laugh together, watching a funny scene. Why limit it to this one emotion?
Not for the movies I’ve been to see here in Catalunya … in Andalucía anything could happen!
Cinemas in Catalunya you say? That reminds me of the day in Barcelona where I went into one, not noticing it was more something like a gay porno cinema. Went there to watch Freddys Final in 3D.
Odd! I thought, when the lobby was filled with a bunch of guys, that didn’t go as a group.
Sympathic spaniards! I thought as most of them started to talk to each others, while they seem they didn’t know eachother.
Oh the nice spanish soul! As the bartender winked at me, as I ordered my coke, wishing me fun.
DAMN! I finally noticed where I actually was, as the persons that sat right next to me started to rub one out while Freddy was in the midst of some good old teenager killing.
And yes, I didn’t notice any cheering, besides of other noises.
You realize clapping is mainly a social thing right?
I watched Star Wars ep 3 in theaters and the entire audience would erupt whenever Yoda did something badass.
It honestly made the whole experience that much more memorable because everyone around you is equally hyped up and enjoying the show.
How is it any different than laughing at a comedy show? Should everyone not laugh when something that’s meant to be laughed at happens? Should no one cry during emotional scenes?
I went to the movies once and the director was there and did a Q&A and my anxiety made me feel like we as a theatre didn’t clap enough. We don’t often have the director or any celebrities where I live, so nobody knew the protocol.
I would go to way more of those if they happened near me!
We get Hallmark movies filmed where I live, so it is fun to try and recognize all the spots. One time it was my neighborhood coffee shop which was neat. I wish those directors would show the movies here and do Q&A, but they probably wouldn’t appreciate me passing out my Hallmark movie bingo cards at the screening.
If a famous person requires a different protocol… they’re not good enough to be respected as a normal person.
A position itself should NEVER be respected simply for being there unless you are a subordinate in the military. Even then, it is legal and encouraged to disobey direct orders that are illegal.
You don’t need anxiety simply because there’s a rich fuck in the room. Stop twisting yourself for others you don’t even know.
It was an independent film that was quite good, and it was the director’s first feature length film. They were super nice and not snooty or anything.
It’s very uncommon for that kind of thing to happen where I live is all. I’ve never seen people clap at the movies otherwise (Rocky Horror doesn’t count!).
They mean something to me. I’ll even clap at home, alone, too. I’ll even occasionally laugh when I’m alone. Feels good.
In Los Angeles there’s a pretty good chance someone who had something to do with making that movie is in the audience. Or there’s at least a relative or friends, who will relay the positive response. In certain other countries there’s probably some CGI person who appears in tiny print after the mid-credits teaser scene. They are more likely to get a kick from applause than the director, too, since they don’t parade around the talk-show circuit. I’m not saying it should be expected, but if people are really delighted, they should go ahead and express it. Joy harms no one.
